Daily Archives: February 26, 2012

Royal Blue Grocery is a charming store with a cafe and serves sandwiches in addition to selling grocery products. It’s open 7:00 am to midnight, 7 days a week.

Mom and Pops’ popsicles and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream including flavors such as Reisling poached pear sorbet and salted caramel.

Mmmpanadas has cute logos. They have a food truck that focuses on empanadas, but also sell some of their flavors such as Soy Chorizo with Brie, Asparagus Prosciutto, Spinach Mushroom at the grocery store. The sweet dessert flavors I want to try include Mango Ginger, S’mores and Pineapple Cinnamon.

The Downtown Austin and 6th Street area was paramount to our visit to Austin. Our cab driver, who had roots in Cambridge, Ma, said we were located in the thick of it- the late night music and shenanigans, that is! We wanted to be near the Capital and the Bourbon Street-like atmosphere for one evening.

The Driskill Hotel has 189 rooms and is located in a building which is over 200 years old and has old Texas grandeur- including high ceilings, marble and antique artifacts.

The lobby’s ceilings are quite high, adorned with gold, columns and chandeliers.

On every floor has art every few inches. It was fun to walk through the hallways and discover new paintings.

Bank vault and antique mini-furniture near the elevator bank.

The bed with a fur throw and signature D for Driskill pillow.

Old-school photos, post cards and memorabilia in the bathroom.

The 1886 Cafe and Bakery is adorable and allows patrons to see into the kitchen. The cafe serves chicken fried steak, chili corn bread, meatloaf and brisket.

How would I characterize Austin? Austin is keeping it weird, funky, cool and delicious. The New York Times they provides a great photo Slideshow and corresponding article entitled 36 Hours in Austin. The music scene, Austin Food Carts, barbeque, antiques and Southern hospitality makes me want to return as soon as I can, every time.

Our taxi driver mentioned how Austin City Limits and SXSW (South By Southwest) has brought tremendous commerce to the city and these two events have drawn a global audience. She mentioned about the all the musicians and attendees’ various late night partying, her run- ins with famous artists and interesting celebrities such as Bill Murray.

Lady Bird Lake

Urban Bat Colony

Black Grackle’s throughout the city.

State Capital

The green area in front of the Capital was perfect for photo shoots. A young teenager posing for her sweet 15 and a chicken costume?

6th Street, Blue Moon Rock and Roll and the late night street meat

The cover band at Blue Moon were solid and very talented. They killed it with renditions of some blue grass, oldies, classic rock and then it went a bit downhill when they sang Gravity by John Mayer. Maybe I’m just not a much of a John Mayer fan?!